Antiskid chain securing device



July 6, 1948. r s o s' r 2,444,513

ANTI-SKID CHAIN SECURING DEVICE Filed March 5, 1947 $1 2712 fame/y Patented July 6, 1948 UNITED STATES OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to anti-skid chains and devices of similar nature for use on slippery pavements in order toincrease the frictional engagement of a vehicle wheel with a skiddy or slippery pavement. This application is an improvement over my copending patent application, Serial Number 666,460, filed May 1, 1946.

An important object of my invention is to pro-- vide anti-skid chain means and traction elements, or units, which may be readily attached to a vehicle wheel, or readily detached therefrom, when not needed.

An important object of my invention being the provision of a locking and latching means which is quickly engaged and locked in position and, at the same time, will tautly secure the chain about the vehicle wheel so as to prevent leaving slack portions of the chain which create slap against the fenders, and have a tendency of becoming more and more distended from wear and use.

It is therefore a prime object of my invention to provide slack tightening means which will insure a tight fit of an anti-skid chain structure to a vehicle wheel; at the same time preventing that condition from becoming aggravated after continued use.

Another object of my invention is to provide a locking and latching means for anti-skid chain units, which is practical in construction, eflicient in its operation toward the purposes for which it is purported to be used, and of such simple elemental construction as to warrant economical manufacture thereof in quantity production.

Other features and ancillary objects inherent in my invention will become apparent from an examination of the accompanying drawings, having further reference to the ensuing description, wherein like symbols are used to designate like parts, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a vehicle wheel and the skid chain structure attached thereto.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged quadrant or section of a vehicle wheel, showing the important features of the locking and latching means, clearly depicting the general structure thereof.

Fig. 3 is a. front View of the latching means preparatory to closing position, in full lines, and showing the same in closed position in dotted lines.

Fig. 4 shows the latching means in closed and locked engagement and is a view similar to Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an end View of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of arrows 5-5.

Fig. 6 is a tran-sversal sectional view taken along the lines 6-6 of Fig. 4.

, Referring to the various views, my invention is best illustrated in Fig. 1, it being generally designated 8, and is attached to a vehicle wheel generally designated 1. The anti-skid chain unit is designated 9, it being secured to the anti-skid or traction elements which are of a toothed nature designated l0, and more clearly described in the aforesaid co-pending patent application.

The chain structure 9 is preferably hexagonal in shape and is made up of six chain portions, or laterals, and six traction elements It. The chain generally designated 8 is comprised of six lateral sections 9 and six traction elements l0. One of the laterals 9 is broken so as to connect the locking and latching means comprising the important feature of this particular invention.

In my former application, I disclosed four traction elements Ii] and a chain of four sections. I have found, by increasing the number of laterals of the chain to six, that I obtain a better fit. I can also attach the chain and remove it without jacking up the wheel to which the chain or traction units are to be attached. However, with my former invention, I have found that I do not obtain as tight a closure as I do with my present locking and latching means. The resultant effect-s, in the former instance, being that the original looseness of the chain and, because of its engagement with the pavement, it tends to become more and more distended and becomes looser from continual use, developing a great amount of slack and relative movement between the chain and the wheel; thus, defeating the anti-skid principle which makes a traction unit of this type ineflicient.

I have, therefore, recognized that it is essential to have a tighter fitting arrangement and have subdivided the chain and structure to six lateral sections to permit of a tight fitting relationship by providing the latching means illustrated in Fig. 3.

Referring to those figures, I show a latching element M which is provided with an eye I5 r articulately secured to one end of one link f3 of one section of the lateral, which is broken; link ii of the other section on the same lateral being slipped into by the latch M, as indicated in Fig. 3. preparatory to locking, latching, and tightening the chain section by means of drawing together the links H and I3 of the section I I and i i. The latch I4 is provided with an enlarged portion having a cam-like upper surface ll of arcuate shape and a rear hump portion I 8. Directly below the head latch I 4 engagesopening It. The latch I 4 is swung about its pivot on the lower portion of the link 13 to the dotted lines, I

indicated in Fig. 3, and simultaneously with that motion the loose locking link 19 is caused to be cammed upwardly to the dotted position as shown and, when the latch has been moved sumciently to the left, the chain link 19 will drop to the position indicated by the full lines in Fig. 3 to engage the opening T6. The rear hump portion 18 will abut against the upper portion ofthechain link IS, thus providing a locking arrangement both ways which will not accidentally come apart.

To foolproof the locking action and to make it more convenient, the link 20 has two protuberances 2| which will prevent the safety chain link 19 from falling lower than indicated, so that. in the position, shown in Fig. 3, the mere rotation of lateral M to its closed position willautomatically cam upwardly the chain link l9 and,then, allow the same to drop and furnish a locking means with the slot 16, the link l3 resting against the hump portion l9 heretofore mentioned.

In removing the same, the latch I4 is moved to theleft past the dotted position so as to permit moving the link IE5 upwardly to the dotted position shown. Then, the latch 14 may be moved outwardly toward the full'lines and drawn out of the link I2to disengage the same. A latching means of this type is provided On the front section of the chain for the wheel in Fig. 1, and another one is provided on the back portion so that the chain may be'tightly and ta-utly'secured to function efnciently.

It goes withoutsaying that, in attaching a chain of this type tautly to begin with, all diiiiculty arising from loosely mounted chains is necessarily obviated and, hence, a more eiiicient traction means is provided.

It should be understood that I am not confined to specific forms, dimensions, or materials herein described, as non-essential changes or modifications maybe made without departure from my invention; all such changes and modifications to be contemplated by'me as within the scope and purview of the appended-claims.

Having thus disclosed and revealed-my invention, what I claim as'new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent;- is

1'. In an anti-skid chain structure, latch means for'releasably and tautly securingthe'said antiskid chain structure about a'pneumatic tire, the said latch means including, a latch element articulately secured to the-terminal link of one portion of the said anti-skid chain structure, a cam portion on the .top edge of the said latch means, a locking slotted portion-below-the said cam portionand-located on-the-forward edge of the saidlatch-means,-a hump portion on the rear edge of-the saidlatch means adapted to abut the said-terminal link in locked-position, a locking chain link mounted slidahly and transversely on the chain link adjacent the said terminal' link adapted to enter with one of its ends into the said lockingislotted portion, and protuberant means on the edges of the-said chain link adjacent the said terminal link to maintain the said locking chain link within cam actuating range of the saidlatch means.

2. In an anti-skid--'chain' structure, latch means for releasably and tautly securing the said anti- ,skid chain structure about a pneumatic tire, the .said latch means including, a latch element articulately secured to the terminal link of one portion of the said anti-skid chain structure, a cam portion on the top edge of the said latch means, a locking slotted portion below the said cam portion and located on the forward edge of the said latch means, a hump portion on the rear edge of the said latch means adapted to abut the said terminal link in locked position, a looking chain link mounted slidably and transversely on the chain link adjacent the said terminal link adapted to enter with one of its ends into the .said locking slotted portion, and protuberant means on the edges of the said chain link adjacentthe said terminal link to maintain the said locking chain link within cam actuating range of the said latch means, the said latch means when articulated toward latching and locking yposition efiectuating close and secure envelopmerit-oi the said pneumatic tire preventing objectionable slapfromimpairing the eificiency of the said anti-skid chain structure.

3. In an anti-skid chain structure, latch means for releasably and tautly securing the said antiskid chain structure about a pneumatic tire, the said, latch means including, a latch element articulately secured to the terminal link of one portion of the said anti-skid chain structure, a cam portionon. the top edge of the said latch means, a locking slotted portion below the said cam portion and located on the forward edge of the said latch means, a hump portion on the rear edge of the said latch means adapted to abut the said terminal link in locked position, a locking, chain link mounted slidably and transversely on the chain link adjacent the said terminal link adapted to enter with one of its ends into the said ,locking slotted portion, and protubcrant means on the edges of the said chain link adjacent the said terminal link to maintain the said locking chain link within cam actuating range ofthe said. latch means, the said latch means being removably secured to the terminal link of the said anti-skid chain structure, the said latch. means when articulated 99 toward latching. and locking position efiectuating close andsecure envelopment of the said pneumatic tire preventing objectionable slap from impairing the efficiencyof the said traction elements.

STEFAN KOS'IELNY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,283,396 Buchanan Oct. 29, 1918 1,290,474 Achberger Jan; 7,1919 1,894,914 Stahl Jan. 1'7, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 116,411 Austria Feb. 25, 1930 786,078 France Aug. 26, 1935 

